Longwood Graduate Catalog 2003-2004

Master of Science - Environmental Studies

Dr. Charles D. Ross, Chair
Department of Natural Science

434.395.2577, cross@longwood.edu

Dr. Mary E. Lehman, Program Coordinator

The course of study in Environmental Studies is a 36-hour interdisciplinary program leading to the Master of Science degree. Requirements for the degree include classroom courses as well as courses that emphasize practical hands-on experience in the field, laboratory, and/or with computerized research techniques. Students may choose the thesis or non-thesis option to complete the degree. Though an official declaration of an area of specialization is not required, non-thesis students are encouraged to choose coursework to develop a science area of emphasis in biology, chemistry, or earth science. Thesis students will develop an area of specialization through their research and are encouraged to choose coursework that supports or enhances their area of specialization. Study outside of the science disciplines is also incorporated into the required coursework for the degree to encourage the development of an understanding of the complexities of environmental issues from a variety of viewpoints. Undergraduate prerequisites are introductory biology (8 credits), introductory chemistry (8 credits), ecology (4 credits), hydrology (3 credits), and microeconomics (3 credits). The ecology prerequisite may be fulfilled by the inclusion of Biology 541 (Field Ecology) in the student’s graduate coursework. The hydrology prerequisite may be fulfilled by the inclusion of Earth Science 554 (Hydrology) in the student’s graduate coursework. Other prerequisite deficiencies can be completed concurrently with graduate coursework and must be finished within one year of admission into the program. The General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required as a part of the application for admission to this program.

THESIS

Students choosing the thesis option are expected to discuss thesis research topics with faculty members as soon as possible. Work with an advisor is based on mutual agreement between the advisor and the student. A research topic and thesis advisor must be chosen before enrolling in ENST 600 - Thesis Research I; students will conduct research over a period of at least one academic year or the equivalent. Students will usually complete the writing of the thesis in the academic term after their enrollment in ENST 601 - Thesis Research II.

Successful oral defense of the thesis before a committee jointly chosen by the student and advisor may be completed before the end of the semester in which the student is enrolled in ENST 601 - Thesis Research II; however, the defense will usually be held in the semester or summer session immediately following the completion of this course. The thesis defense may not be scheduled until the student’s advisor preliminarily approves the thesis. The remaining committee members must then be given a copy of the most recent draft of the thesis at least six weeks prior to the scheduled defense date. An oral examination scheduling form (available in the Office of Graduate Studies) must also be filed with the program coordinator and the Office of Graduate Studies at least four weeks prior to the oral examination (defense) date.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

Students electing the non-thesis option must complete 6 credit hours of additional classroom coursework in lieu of Thesis Research I and II (ENST 600 and 601). Successful completion of a comprehensive exam is required for the non-thesis track. Students must register for ENST 699 - Comprehensive Exam, the last semester of their degree work or the semester immediately following the completion of all coursework. The comprehensive exam may not be delayed beyond this time unless the program coordinator has granted approval. Comprehensive examinations are only administered during fall and spring semesters. Students who complete their coursework during a summer session, must register for ENST 699 – Comprehensive Exam, in the fall semester immediately following that summer session.

The student's committee will be responsible for the preparation, administration, and evaluation of the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam will consist of a written portion and an oral exam. The written portion will be given first and the oral exam should be scheduled no later than 4 weeks after the completion of the written exam. These general rules will apply to the administration of the written and oral examinations:

1. The written exam will primarily be composed of essay and/or problem-solving questions that are designed to evaluate the student’s ability to think critically, to integrate concepts from multiple courses, to approach problem-solving from a variety of viewpoints, and to express himself/herself clearly.

2. The written examination will be administered over a three-day period (one day per committee member) during the third full week of October (fall semester) or the first full week of March (spring semester), as agreed upon by the student and his/her committee.

3. The written and oral examinations will be taken at site(s) agreed upon by the student and his/her committee.

4. The oral exam will be designed to further evaluate the student’s general knowledge and ability to think critically and communicate clearly. The oral exam may also allow the student to further clarify answers to questions from the written exam.

5. The grading system for the evaluation of the written and oral examinations will be pass/fail, with a majority vote of the student’s committee determining the final outcome. In the event of a failing grade, the student may re-register for ENST 699 – Comprehensive Exam no earlier than the next fall or spring semester. During the second attempt, the written and/or the oral portion of the exam may be repeated, as deemed necessary by the student’s committee. Failure of the examination for a second time will be final, and the student will be dismissed from the graduate program.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, THESIS

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Field/Lab/Research Techniques Component. (10) Complete:

ENST 550 Biostatistics and Experimental Design (4)

And select a minimum of six credit hours from the following:

BIOL 500 Field Ornithology (6)

BIOL 505 Field Mammalogy (6)

BIOL 541 Field Ecology (6)

BIOL 543 Field Botany (6)

CHEM 551 Instrumental Analysis Projects (4)

CHEM 552 Chromatographic Analysis Projects (4)

EASC 520 Stream Processes and Land Forms (6)

GEOG 560 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (4)

Classroom Component. (15) Complete:

ECON 500 Environmental Economics (3)

ENST 564 Environmental Issues (3)

ENST 605 Environmental Laws and Regulations (3)

And select two of the following:

BIOL 530 Conservation Biology (4)

CHEM 500 Chemistry of the Environment (3)

EASC 510 Geomorphology (3)

EASC 554 Hydrology (3)

EASC 555 Climatology (3)

ENST 516 Environmental Ethics (3)

ENST 560 Water Pollution (3)

HLTH 500 Environmental Health (3)

RECR 520 Environmental Education Resources (3)

Thesis Component. (6) Complete:

ENST 600 Thesis Research I (3)

ENST 601 Thesis Research II (3)

Elective Component. (5) Select a minimum of five additional credit hours from the classroom component and/or the field/lab/research techniques component.

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED 36

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, NON-THESIS